Review of the new-generation Ram 1500: a brutal pickup

The new-generation Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup for those who truly need a large bed, strong towing capability, and long-distance comfort. Its strength isn’t city versatility, but the blend of a work-ready format with an almost passenger-car-like ride on the highway—especially in well-equipped trims.

This model suits owners of trailers, boats, ATVs, building materials, or simply anyone who regularly uses the bed as intended. If you need a vehicle for daily short trips, tight courtyards, and parking garages, the Ram 1500’s dimensions will start to annoy you quickly.

The model and its place in the market

The Ram 1500 plays in the class of big American pickups and competes not with midsize models, but with other full-size trucks. It’s valued for a softer rear suspension than many rivals, a roomy cabin, and a wide range of versions—from basic work trucks to expensive, near-premium trims.

On the market, it’s one of the most comfortable pickups for highway driving and long trips. But you pay for that with size, weight, fuel costs, and more expensive tires, brakes, and servicing compared to a crossover.

Generations and model history

The current fifth-generation Ram 1500 with the DT index was introduced in 2018, and it’s what people usually mean when they talk about the “new” Ram 1500. In some markets, the previous Ram 1500 Classic was sold in parallel for a while, so on the used market it’s important not to mix these trucks up: they differ in body, interior, and hardware.

Within the generation, the model received various versions—from basic work trims to off-road and sport-oriented ones. TRX stands apart: it’s not just a rich trim level, but a very specific high-performance version with a completely different character and running costs.

Engines and transmissions

On the new-generation Ram 1500, the engine lineup varied depending on the year and the market. So when choosing, it’s important to look not only at the model name, but also at the specific model year and version.

Most versions of this Ram 1500 generation use an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drive can be rear-wheel or four-wheel. For everyday mixed use, people most often look at the V6 3.6 or V8 5.7, while the exotic versions are chosen for very specific scenarios.

Body, dimensions, and chassis

The Ram 1500 comes with different cab types and different bed lengths, so the raw numbers here always depend on configuration. For a pickup, it’s more accurate to evaluate not the “trunk” but the bed itself: its volume and length determine how genuinely useful the truck is in daily life or work.

It’s the chassis that strongly distinguishes the Ram 1500 from some competitors. Rear coils deliver a better empty ride, and the air suspension adds comfort and the ability to change ride height. The downside is simple: the more complex the version, the more carefully you need to watch suspension condition and budget for repairs.

Interior, comfort, and safety

The Ram 1500’s interior is one of the reasons people buy this model not only for work. In higher trims there’s a lot of space, wide seats, generous rear-legroom, and the feel of a big road-going vehicle rather than a purely utilitarian pickup.

Equipment level depends on the version: in basic trims the cabin is fairly straightforward, while in upscale ones you get a large screen, better materials, seat ventilation, good audio, and a broad set of electronic assistants. Safety tech can include automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera, but not every truck has all of this from the factory.

Everyday use

In daily life, the Ram 1500 is enjoyable on the highway—stable at speed and comfortable on long hauls. The large interior, wide cab, and softer suspension genuinely benefit the owner if the truck often travels between cities or tows a trailer.

In the city, it’s a different picture. Length over five and a half meters, width, a high hood line, and not-so-friendly parking make ordinary errands less simple. If the bed is used once every few months and there’s no trailer, the practical point of this format becomes questionable.

Another point is costs. Even base versions can’t be called cheap to run, and the V8—and especially the TRX—requires readiness for more serious spending on fuel, tires, and brakes.

Strengths and weaknesses

For Ram 1500 owners, it usually either “clicks” quickly or it doesn’t. If you truly need a big pickup, the model offers plenty of comfort and capability. If you bought it more with your eyes than for your tasks, disappointment comes from the size and running costs.

From a practical point of view, the main plus is that the Ram 1500 doesn’t force you to put up with purely cargo-truck behavior on the road. The main minus is that it demands an honest answer to whether you need a full-size pickup every day, not just a few times a year.

Tuning and accessories

For the Ram 1500, accessories make sense when they solve a specific task: easier entry, body protection, or better cargo-bed organization. Before choosing, it’s useful to double-check your configuration with the review of the new-generation Ram 1500, because bed length, body height, and step type depend on the version.

• Side steps — one of the most practical options for a tall pickup: easier to get in every day, more convenient for kids and passengers, less dirt along the lower edge.
• Sports bar — useful if the bed is actually working: adds tie-down points, partly protects the front of the bed from cargo, and looks right on a pickup.

Decorative items make less sense if the truck constantly carries cargo or often leaves the pavement. For the Ram 1500, functional tuning works better than parts that only add weight or complicate access to the bed.

Conclusion

The new-generation Ram 1500 is a strong option for those who need a big pickup with a comfortable chassis, a spacious interior, and a genuinely useful bed. It’s worth buying for a clear scenario: towing, hauling, long-distance travel, an active lifestyle. For city use without these tasks, it’s simply too large and not a cheap format.

The most important thing when choosing is not to buy the name, but to select a specific configuration: the DT generation, the right engine, bed length, suspension type, and the truck’s real condition. This material is based on real selection experience, practical know-how, and real-world use cases.